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Thursday, April 12, 2007

SMK Canossa Convent, Melaka

The Truth, The Way and The Lightby Karen Lee Huey Shyan

Canossa Convent urgently needs funds to reinforce the foundation of the school hall and library block, which are in danger of collapsing. The beams and pillars are significantly exposed, and action has to be taken fast before any untoward incidents happen. A fund raising dinner will held on the 28th April 2007 in Malacca.

I remembered vividly how I used to describe to my colleagues and university mates that my secondary school was like a lighthouse by the edge of the sea. The freezing cold morning air and the lapping of the waves were the sounds that greeted me every time I stepped into the school compound. Located on the highest floor of the school building, my classroom overlooked the sprawling houses in Portuguese Settlement and had a really magnificent view of the Straits of Malacca.

Standing just merely five meters away from the sea, SMK Canossa Convent, metaphorically, has served as guiding light, as a beacon of hope, for the many lost ‘ships’ in their voyage through life be it spiritually, academically or socially.

I had schoolmates who were Portuguese, Chinese educated Chinese, English educated Chinese (they were from Chinese Medium Primary Schools and Primary Convent Schools respectively), Malays, Hindu Indians, Christian Indians, Baba Nyonyas etc. You named it; we were truly a melting pot. And through this melting pot, we learnt the lessons of racial tolerance to the extent that each festive season was the highlight of our otherwise ordinary school life. We would organize cycling expeditions through the kampungs and paddy fields as we visited our schoolmates and enjoyed the delicious delicacies prepared by different races.

It was also this ‘muhibbah’ spirit, which spurred us on as we made it a point to have festive concerts in our school hall come every festive season.

While we did not have many students with strings of ‘A’s, what we lacked academically, we made it up by excelling in sports and extra-curricular activities. Our school’s volley team was one of the best in Malacca. Coached by the ever popular and charismatic Mr. Lee, though the going was tough, the team players played their guts out at every match and tournament. Not forgetting the huge turnout by the cheerleading students from all age group, we had so much fun supporting our favourite team.

I remembered we were champions in the Malacca English Drama Competition for three years in a row. All thanks to teachers like Mrs. Joan Chong, Mrs. Koh, Mrs. Doris Tan and many others who poured their hearts and souls making diamonds from rough stones like us. Many of us students also sacrificed our time forgoing all other engagements and spending days getting all the lines ready and preparing our props and costumes. I wonder how is the situation like now in my alma mater?

I was in the science stream and my, my classmates and I were really an outspoken lot. We made our presence felt in school by being vocal about a lot of things. We were quite a notorious lot and no one wanted to be our form teacher, fearing that we were too much to handle probably. Which was all the more why we respected Mrs. Seow because she gave us the benefit of the doubt. She didn’t see us as a bunch of misfits but rather like a bunch of youngsters enjoying the emancipation of women to the maximum.Mrs. Seow, may you rest in peace.

But to me, the person I revered the most was and still is my former Principal, Sister Esther Thomazios. I was really touched by her undying effort and her utmost commitment in bringing out the best in us. She displayed such uncanny ability in making something out of nothing, making Canossa Convent one of the best-kept and organized schools in Malacca.

Two years ago, Canossa Convent celebrated its 100 anniversary of the arrival of the Canossian Sisters in Malaysia. We had a huge gathering amongst the ex students of the school. We also invited the Canossian Sisters from all over Malaysia (Kluang, Malacca, Monfort Boys Town etc) and Singapore to grace the event.

No words can described the feeling of being able to meet our former teachers again and catching up with old classmates and friends, looking at how some of us prosperous horizontally (pun intended) with growing families and sadly, some who had left us to be with God. I was moved to tears when I saw many of the Canossian Sisters I knew like Sister Dorothy, Sister Geraldine and Sister Esther and how they have made a lifetime commitment to the betterment of the unprivileged.

Canossa Convent is located right in the heart of Portuguese Settlement. Unlike now where many dwellers of the settlement are much more affluent, twenty years ago, the main source of income for most of the Portuguese families came from the sea, as most of them were fishermen. Many families could hardly earn enough to sustain a living. Low literacy rate and high dropout rate were common among their children. Not to mention, there were many social problems in the community like alcohol and drug addiction, gangsterism, marital problem etc.

The Canossian Sisters from Canossa Convent were there at a time when the community needed them most. They have been like the light at the end of the tunnel, a beacon of hope when all were in despair. Mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers alike respected the Canossian Sisters. Masses were conducted weekly at the school hall for the community. Fund raising projects were organized to keep the poor fed and clothed. Extra tuition classes were held for the weaker students. Counseling sessions were conducted to improve relationship and more importantly, all were welcomed with open arms by the Sisters. Regardless of race, religion and status, the Canossian Sisters have shown that what God has provided for us, we need to give it back to the community.

Via, Veritas, Vita. The Truth, The Way and The Light. Canossa Convent’s motto. My school’s motto. I finally realize what it meant.

Karen Lee is currently a full time homemaker and a part time teacher. In the midst of her busy schedule, she feels compelled to write about social and environmental issues that touch her heart. She can be contacted at karenleehs(at)yahoo.com

Actually that school is not the only one in dire state. There are many more of them throughout the country that are unknown to us.

Interestingly, we can observe a pattern regarding those underprivilledge schools - they are not Malay schools. Same as the school mentioned, schools started by mercenaries during the colonial era are placed into blind spot. Some of them are even over 100 years in history and by right should be preserved as part of the country's heritage and historical past. But what we have is they are left to rot. Anyone from the government care to explain? If only the RM8.5M was spent to help these schools.

Paypal...? Not yet anyway, hope to generate donations from abroad so will keep that in mind. You can send foreign cheque under the school's account and send to the school. Thanks mate for your idea.

Thanks very much Tony for putting up my article in the blog, we are making progress from zero base and hopefully towards solving the building's problems and ultimately towards the financial sustainability of the school in the long run.

I believe many other ex-students will not want Canossa Convent to end up like Bok House or COnvent Bukit Bintang.

In which constituency is SMK Canossa Convent located? Let's pray the MP or state assembly person there steps down graciously so that a by-election can be held soon. Then the BN heavyweights will come to town in full force and give cheques readily to SMK Canossa Convent.Let's get the ball rolling!

If the pm could afford to give RM25,000,000 to his alma mater BMHS, why the hell can't he allocate RM500,000 to SMKCC? After all, both are SMKs and both are among the top schools in the country. As for fast-buck's wish for a by-election there, it is speedier for the elected rep to pass away than for him/her to step down, unless he/she is sacked for corruption.

Try listening to The Windchime song by Dick Lee. Don't forget where you have come from, Take a little time to see,Let the message in the windchime song is all you'll ever need.Don't forget where you've come from,Let the windchime proudly show,Let the past is all you'll ever need to know..........

'The heart of Education is the Education of the heart'... That is what Canossa Convent's all about.

Hi guys, I was once a Canossian student in the Philippines.. Canossa has really influenced me a lot in terms of my outlook in life and how I deal with other people. I still remember every December we used to bring our old clothes, canned goods from our house to the less fortunate people living near our school. We also prepared programs and visited them in their homes. Same thing when there's a thypoon or other calamities striked in the country we never forget to help the victims.Canossa taught us how to share what we have. Even now that I have my own family, I know that I can still share to them the essence of their teachings.. Being educated by Canossian sisters is really a great help for us, this serves as my foundation to have a more profound and meaningful life.

I know how it feels when you see the school crumbling...my convent school,I'm from the nearby school...and now it is in dire situation and seriously need funds so that it will go on continue for the next hundred years. i believe that if we're as the alumni can't do nothing for our school it is truly a shame.especially for a school that has done so much

WELL..HI,MY FAMILY N I WLL BE TRANSFERED TO MELAKA VERY SOON... SINCE I M NOT FAMILIAR THERE..CAN ANYBDY CARE TO TO RECOMMEND ME ABT TOP TEN SCHOOL IN MALACCA. I MEAN PRIMARY SCHOOL AS I GOT 3 DAUGHTERS STUDYING IN PRIMARY LEVEL. WILL BE STAYING AT BKT KATIL AREA.

well, i was from Canossian Convent since 1995 to 1999. well, anyway, if there is any update bout any function, pls let me know through my email at wendygoh07@yahoo.com.ya...i can see lots of diffrent happening in our dear school.here, i sincely want to thanks Mrs Doris Tan, my dearest form 4PA and Form 5PA (1999) for all her guidance, love and support. without her i wont be in the insurance line now (i mean prudential). Would also like to thank Mr Lee You Meng, Mr Wong Tze Pin and Mrs Lim for all their patience, guidance, love and care for me.

God bless all of you in canossa and pls update me about what is happening in Canossa Convent Melaka.